The ministry of ag confirmed the disease in 37 canola fields in the province
By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture confirmed 37 cases of clubroot in canola fields across the northern ag regions.
A survey in 2017 found the disease in crop districts 9AE, 9AW and 9B. This year, clubroot expanded beyond these areas to affect districts 7B, 6B and 5B, a SaskCanola release said on Wednesday.
The ministry recently concluded the in-field portion of an extensive 2018 clubroot survey, the release said. Growers, agrologists and rural municipalities also provided information. Once soil testing in the lab is complete, the results will provide more information about clubroot’s distribution.
The ministry advises all growers with infected fields to follow the Saskatchewan Clubroot Management Plan.
In the event growers or agronomists find clubroot outside of the survey timeframe, they should contact the ministry before year end, the release said. This information will ensure the updated clubroot distribution map, which the ministry will release early next year, is as accurate as possible. Specific field locations are not shared publicly.
“Knowing that clubroot is present is valuable information as it will enable producers to make informed clubroot management plans,” Barb Ziesman, the plant disease specialist for Sask.’s Ministry of Agriculture, said in the release.
“If clubroot is found early, it can be managed much more effectively with minimum impact on yield.”
To help prevent the further spread of the disease, the ministry suggests that farmers consider growing clubroot-resistant varieties and extending their crop rotations. Farmers should also take care to minimize soil movement when scouting fields for clubroot, the release said.
For more information on clubroot, producers can visit clubroot.ca. Growers can also contact their local canola or disease specialist, or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
Province of Manitoba photo